In the shadows and between the cracks of our everyday lives hide the Chronicles of Darkness. Here lurk creatures of ancient myth and urban legend. Here lie the graves of angels and the bunkers of secret government programs. Here every malformed horror you’ve ever seen out of the corner of your eye has a home. And they’ve seen you.

Don’t look back!

Chronicles of Darkness RPG rulebook contains:

A guide to creating characters to explore a world of modern horror, from hopes and fears to psychic powers.

Dramatic rules for investigation, social manipulation, and bone-crunching violence.

Over a dozen monsters straight out of weird fiction and urban legend… plus complete rules for creating your own.

The God-Machine Chronicle, a massive collection of sample characters and techgnostic adventures.

Formerly titled nWoD Core Rulebook 2nd Edition.

Note on the Print Editions: Standard Color uses a thinner paper stock than Premium Color, basically the same paper as the Black & White books. This usually means the colors are less vivid, but it also means the price drops a bit per page in the production process. Examples of pages: Premium Color vs. Standard Color.

This is small but it has been really bothering me. On page 115 under Media and Inspiration it refers to "The Killing (U.S. or Dutch version)". It says Dutch, where it should say Danish.

October 24, 2017 5:29 pm UTC

If I want to run Hunter do I need this or can I pick up a copy of the older version without all the God complex crap?

Andrés TFebruary 14, 2018 7:33 pm UTC

PURCHASER

It depends on what you are looking for: plain hunters or "Hunter: the Vigil" hunters. You can mix-n-match several books:
[WoD] World of Darkness
[HtV] Hunter: the Vigil
[CofD] Chronicles of Darkness
[MR] Mortal Remains

If you are looking for plain hunters without additional rules/conspiracies, you can use either [WoD] (1st edition rules) or [CofD] (2nd edition rules). This way it's just 1 book, but bear in mind that [CofD] includes a lot more than just The God-Machine Chronicles, and adds a lot of tools that improve storytelling and roleplaying, such as condition cards and tilts. It also adds rules for investigation and clues, social maneuvering, new rules for combat, and a framework for designing investigation chronicles (Called "Missing Persons").

If you are looking for playing [HtV] you can use [WoD]+[HtV] for 1st edition rules), or go with [WoD]+[HtV]+[MR] for 2nd edition rules. You could also try [CofD]+[HtV]+[MR], but maybe that would...See more be a little bit of overkill.

Melinda Franke FApril 18, 2018 9:35 pm UTC

I own [HtV], Some of the [HtV] books(Spirit slayers etc.) and Block by Bloody Block. I finally have a group that wants to play. I want to run the game with the most updated ruleset. Should I use [CofD]+[HtV] with my additional [HtV] books? Do I needed [MR]?

Aimee SOctober 22, 2017 10:11 am UTC

PURCHASER

Really good book. Unfortunately the god machine stuff itself is all tepid recycled matrix-esque nonsense, but largely it's a very solid system with a big rules improvement over the original. Shame old World of Darkness fans bullied them into changing the name though, Chronicles of Darkness is a lot less evocative and has clearly created a lot of confusion.

Paul BMarch 22, 2018 2:16 pm UTC

PURCHASER

"Shame old World of Darkness fans bullied them into changing the name though"

What a load of total, unsubstantiated, senseless drivel.

Jannes EAugust 31, 2017 12:17 pm UTC

Will this be compatible with my old printed nWod source books? Ghost Stories, Second sight, VtR, Changeling, Hunter and so on?

Isaac PJanuary 23, 2018 1:43 pm UTC

Yes to all.

Some, you might want another book. Mortal Remains for Second Sight, or Strix Chronicles for VtR

Nadine SAugust 28, 2017 3:24 pm UTC

PURCHASER

So if I buy this book, I don't have to purchase "The God Machine Chronicles" anymore? Or is there additional material in the latter?

Andrés TFebruary 14, 2018 7:36 pm UTC

PURCHASER

No, you don't have to purchase "The God-Machine Chronicles", it's included in this book. I believe that the only change is regarding the included fiction, but that is published in "The God-Machine Chronicles Antology" book.

Marcelino SJuly 04, 2018 4:19 am UTC

I bought the God Machine and the first Edition World of Darkness. So now I need this too? Just wondering. We started playing again.

DORIAN LAugust 16, 2017 1:17 am UTC

I don't understand which world of darkness core book I'm supposed to use with vampire and werewolf 20th anniversary? this one (chronicles of darkness) or a world of darkness 2nd ed (which i believe was made many years before the 20th anniv books)?

Jeffrey MJanuary 11, 2018 8:14 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Really this is the biggest marketing problem I think they made with this version. They really should have gone the dnd route and labelled them all as expressly version 2 or whatever. Also its weird that its not on amazon.

Andrés TFebruary 14, 2018 7:39 pm UTC

PURCHASER

The 20th Anniversary books use the old rule system (oWoD or cWoD). It's a different system and different setting. For those games you won't need this book.

I haven't played Vampire 20 or Werewolf 20, but as far as I know all the base rules are included in their own books, and there is no "base rules book".

Steven AJune 21, 2017 10:48 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Recently purchased a hardback copy of this. I've enjoyed flipping through it, and I think the Horror creation section is a great addition, something missing from the game series that the Antagonist book certainly could've used (while the creatures presented in that book, like the Aswang or Beast of Bethlehem, are great, a helpful guide to create your own monster is a great way to keep things interesting!). I have a slew of World of Darkness books I've amassed over the time. I'm wondering: just how many of the stats and numbers from these books match up well with the new Chronicles? I know each of the splats (Vampire, Werewolf, Changeling, etc) is getting a revision, can we expect the same for the "blue books"? I'm sure Second Sight's clunky collection of psychic abilities has been replaced by the Supernatural Merits offered in CoD, but what about books like Changing Breeds? Will the slew of werecreatures presented in those pages get an update? Is one even required? Can Changing Breed Merits, Aspects,...See more and creature stats flow with the new system as-is?

Mattias GFebruary 13, 2017 12:13 am UTC

I believe all the old Darkness- books each featured a city setting (I've only got the Philadelphia one). Could someone list what city goes with what book?

Note that VtR, XXX and MtAw (1st editions) have books expanding their cities. World of Darkness: Chicago is a crossover of the forst 3 games. Shadows over UK is focused in Werewolf, Shadows over Mexico focused in Vampire. Mummy have 2 city books: Rio de Janeiro (expanding the corebook) and Washington DC. Demon have a Seattle supplement expanding the info of the corebook. I think that´s all :).

Edited to add: seems Tokyo will be the default crossover city for the 2nd edition, let´s see if they publish info of that city for the future 2nd edition books.

Mattias GMay 18, 2017 7:32 pm UTC

Dan is the Man!

It's most helpful to know that VtR 2e has a setting in San Francisco, MtAw 2e has one in L.A. and PtC 2e has one in Sacramento, seeing as I'm writing a Californian hunters' campaign based in Oakland.

Biggest thanx!

Matthew MNovember 17, 2016 9:13 pm UTC

Any way we can get a soft cover?

Nathan RDecember 31, 2016 1:16 pm UTC

Ditto

Artem Vjacheslavovich GNovember 08, 2016 10:57 am UTC

PURCHASER

how about storyteller screen for CofD?

Luis MSeptember 07, 2016 3:27 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Hello guys!! I just bought Werewolf Forsaken second edition!! The content it´s amazing, but I have a question... Like that book I want to buy this one also the premium heavyweight.... But the paper... feels meh... I have vampire requiem first edition and the paper and quality it´s superb.... So I´m wondering now... all this second editions that are coming out or came.... are the type of paper Forsaken 2nd edition use??? Thank for the answer...

Michael SSeptember 08, 2016 9:54 pm UTC

PURCHASER

All the premium heavyweight books use the same paper and print method. Sadly, for all that Print on Demand technology has improved immensely, it's still not quite the equal to a good offset print run like the original NWoD books.

Luis MSeptember 13, 2016 7:41 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Thank you Michael for the answer! Yea I was waiting for other quality, but it still ok! Do you know if there´s a lot of difference to standard quality?? Thank you.

Michael SSeptember 14, 2016 2:16 pm UTC

PURCHASER

I have a standard heavyweight copy of Exalted 3. It's perfectly usable, and still quite nice, but the colour is a bit washed out and unsaturated compared to the premium books I have. The CofD book is so dark, full of blacks and dark blues, so it would probably come out more grey and flat, and some of the detail in the very dark illustrations might be a little harder to make out. But the text should be just as readable, when on a light background.

Luis MSeptember 19, 2016 3:49 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Michael, Thank you very much for your kind answer. That told me if I should keep buying the premium or normal books. Have a nice day!!

joseph FMay 07, 2016 4:17 am UTC

PURCHASER

Does this book have an included chronicle or do you need a separate book

Alexander CMay 12, 2016 9:13 am UTC

PURCHASER

It includes the material from God Machine Chronicles. The book's pretty much in two parts, the first is the rules which is pretty much first edition with the rules updates from GMC incorporated then the second half is all the GMC specific stuff (story seeds and the like).

Michael BApril 08, 2016 3:10 pm UTC

I have greatly enjoyed the #nWoD series over the years. It took me a little time to get into it after the end of #cWoD. I am even more in love with the series now with its new name and direction. It feels like the perfect fit. I look forward to giving you even more of my hard earned money for future releases!

Joshua DMarch 30, 2016 9:03 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Are there any changes between this and the New World of Darkness core book? Could I still play Midnight Roads with this one?

James LMarch 11, 2016 4:17 pm UTC

Would like to see a paperback option like the first edition WoD has...

Hardy LFebruary 24, 2016 9:09 pm UTC

PURCHASER

I want to purchase the print edition, but several of the reviews mention some significant errors (many of the cut-and-paste nature). Has the book been updated since the print availability to fix these errors? If not, does anyone now when we can expect an errata corrected update?

Christopher HMarch 24, 2016 4:56 am UTC

Don't count on it. I don't understand exactly why, but when I asked the same kind of question the answer I got was something along the lines that the files would have to be completely striped down and rebuilt from scratch to fix even the most rudimentary typo. And there were a lot of, penned miscarriages so to speak, in the NWoD. Now, I don't know if this is the truth or not since the magnificently superhuman ego's at White Wolf/CCP/Onyx Path would never allow an actual answer. I am thinking it would likely make them think (at the very least) they would look bad so instead we just get to deal with it and damn you if you don't praise them for their greatness either way, no matter how misplaced it may be. I never kept track of whom the editor(s) were, but whoever it was, at the very least, the Vampire line was the worst. I don't know how this person could call themselves a professional editor with a straight face or with any integrity what-so-ever and have even the slightest shred of a soul. I am confident...See more I could have done a superior job in their place, actually four year old dyslexic Chinese kid with autism could have done a better job.

Michael SMarch 24, 2016 3:46 pm UTC

PURCHASER

The book has been updated since the pdf was first released to correct all the problems caught by readers. Were the reviews you read based on the pdf or the POD?

Hardy LMarch 24, 2016 4:34 pm UTC

PURCHASER

It wasn't clear whether the reviews I read were PoD or PDF (the reviewer never specified). I would know for sure, except OneBookShelf's PoD service has yet to send me the copy of Chronicles Of Darkness I ordered on February 26. It seems that print on DEMAND is a misnomer, and their quality assurance leaves a lot to be desired. I love this game line. I own a print copy of almost every single nWoD edition book. I hoped to be able to continue collecting print versions of the new edition books, but this experience has really disheartened me. I hope either OneBookShelf gets their act together, or that Onyx Path Publishing offers another option for buying printed media.

Beats, new rules for social combat, new rules for monster creation, and broadening of Vices are all great new additions to the second addition. I got the PDF on a whim, but these new rules convinced me to invest in a paper copy as well. The clues syste [...]

A much-needed update to the previous iteration of the World of Darkness. This review is targeted at people with some knowledge of nWoD 1E. Highlights:
-Much better experience system that rewards participation and roleplay, while also simplifying [...]

I consider this to be the culmination of the Storytelling system, a perfect fusion of mechanics and roleplaying. Each Attibute category has an associated subsystem: Violence and Chase for Physical, Investigation for Mental, and Social Maneuverin [...]

While a good start on updating the nWoD core book to include the updates from the GMC Rules Update, several editing issues are present within the text that has prevented our group from moving over to as our main chronicle resource. To wit, many [...]

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